WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Humane Society euthanized about 4,000 animals last year but an official says the number of animals saved continues to improve.

Spokeswoman Melissa Houston says the society provided services for 17,000 animals last year, with about 13,000 homeless. Of those, more than 9,000 were adopted but the other 4,000 had to be euthanized.

Houston says decisions on which animals to put down are usually based on health and behavior, but some are based on space at the shelter.

She says the good news is that 73 percent of the animals are being adopted, up from only 23 percent in 2003.

KWCH-TV reports the organization generally has not released euthanization numbers but Houston says she hopes doing so will make the public more aware of pet overpopulation.